The Young Lady is a Bit Unruly [Fragrant Harbor] - Chapter 10: Too Popular, No Choice

Chapter 10: Too Popular, No Choice

Ye Kaisi was one year younger than his elder brother. He had a more cunning mind, and the two brothers had engaged in numerous overt and covert struggles for the position of heir.

Watching the drama unfold with relish, he laughed and said, As your uncle, of course I’m willing to back you up. I’ll definitely be the witness. But you need to explain to me what exactly is going on.

Ye Baoling glanced at her father and ultimately chose to save him some face, revealing only part of the truth: My dad used my money to buy a closed-end fund. I wanted to withdraw it but couldn’t. My dad said it’s a guaranteed profit, and if it loses money, he’ll pay me back double the principal.

With just this brief explanation, Ye Kaisi roughly understood the situation.

So what constituted a win, and what constituted a loss?

Ye Kaimin declared, When the lock-up period ends, as long as the S101 Fund earns even one cent, Ye Baoling, you lose. If you lose, from then on, I will manage your bank card, and I will handle the funds in your account. Don’t bother me with any more nonsense.

Ye Kaisi couldn’t resist mocking, Big brother, earning just one cent counts as a win? That’s a bit unfair.

You don’t understand—in her hands, the money would just be wasted. I’m giving her a proper lesson today.

Ye Baoling responded, It’s fine. As long as this fund earns even one cent, my dad wins.

How magnanimous.

Ye Kaisi looked at his niece with newfound respect and couldn’t help advising her, You should negotiate with your dad that he only wins if he earns at least 5% or 10%. Otherwise…

Ye Kaimin interrupted, Second brother, if you’re the witness, just be the witness properly. Can you stop causing trouble?

Hey, I’m being fair and impartial. How is that causing trouble? Ye Kaisi wanted to see his elder brother embarrassed, so he continued persuading Ye Baoling, If your dad wins by earning just one cent, Baoling, you’re at too much of a disadvantage.

Fearful that her father might change his mind, Ye Baoling stood firm: I dreamed that my dad lost all my money. As long as he doesn’t lose money, I’ll admit defeat.

Dreamed that he lost all the money? Ye Kaimin was speechless.

Ye Kaisi chuckled, Alright, alright. Baoling is such a filial daughter, willing to take such a disadvantage…

Ye Kaimin urged impatiently, Hurry up!

I’m communicating, aren’t I? Why do you keep interrupting me?

Everything you’re saying is nonsense!

Baoling, look at your dad. He doesn’t want me as the witness—he’s scared.

Scared of what? The account has already earned a considerable amount. I can’t possibly lose. If I still lose, then I, Ye Kaimin, am a piece of roast pork.

There, big brother, you said it yourself. If you lose, you’re a piece of roast pork!

Ye Kaisi!

You called yourself a piece of roast pork! I didn’t say it.

Ye Kaimin: !!!

Ye Kaisi patted his elder brother’s shoulder. Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. Let me reiterate: if big brother wins, Baoling, your bank card will be managed by your father. Conversely, if big brother can’t even earn one cent, not only will he pay double the principal, but he’ll also have to kneel in the ancestral hall and admit to the ancestors that… he’s a piece of roast pork.

Hearing this, Ye Kaimin was furious even before losing.

Watching the two brothers banter back and forth like a comedy duo, Ye Baoling found no opportunity to interject. Her uncle had successfully dragged her father into the mess and even managed to insult him a few times.

Her uncle was quite the character!

Let’s sign and seal the agreement. Ye Kaisi solemnly drafted a contract.

Ye Kaimin refused to sign: My word is my bond. What’s the point of signing or pressing fingerprints?

No sooner had he spoken than his second brother grabbed his index finger and pressed it into red ink.

Ye Kaimin was fuming again.

After this matter was settled, Ye Kaisi left on business. Ye Baoling also wanted to leave but was stopped by her father.

Get ready. You’ll be meeting Lu Tianyou sometime in the next few days.

Ye Baoling glanced at Zheng Junni.

Zheng Junni avoided the topic by instructing someone to clean up the ceramic fragments on the floor.

Ye Baoling thought her guess was probably correct—Ye Baoxin wasn’t willing to go on the blind date with Lu Tianyou either.

Today or tomorrow would be fine. She genuinely wanted to meet this person.

After all, Lu Tianyou was the fund manager of the S101 closed-end fund.

Her bet with her father today was merely to provoke him and humiliate him after the stock market crash. As for whether she could get double compensation, given Ye Kaimin’s character, she wasn’t very confident.

It would be great if she could get it, but it didn’t matter if she couldn’t.

Because she would definitely find a way to withdraw the money early anyway.

Ye Kaimin: I see you’ve already withdrawn 60,000 from your bank account. Go buy yourself some clothes.

Zheng Junni chimed in: I should take Baoling shopping. For a blind date with Young Master Lu, she ought to dress better.

No need, I have clothes. Just notify me when the time is set. Ye Baoling left with Chen Yulan.

When the room quieted down, Ye Kaimin rubbed his temples. He knew he would win, but he still felt deeply uncomfortable and displeased, as if some unspoken rule and authority had been broken.

The news of the father-daughter argument quickly reached Old Master Ye Qizu’s ears.

Ye Kaisi inevitably exaggerated while criticizing his elder brother: I’ve finally figured it out—Baoling’s allowance has always been withheld by Big Brother. For the young lady of our Ye family to live so frugally is ridiculous if word gets out. Even Baoling’s gentle temperament has been pushed to rebellion, which shows…

Ye Qizu put down his newspaper: It’s good that she rebels. What I fear is someone as timid as a quail, submissive and useless—unworthy of being a descendant of our Ye family.

In Ye Qizu’s eyes, weakness was the greatest sin.

He didn’t care about the root causes of weakness.

Ye Kaisi: A girl changes greatly as she grows up. Baoling really was like a quail a few years ago, but now she’s different. I’d say she’s more like a tiger—usually appearing as a sick cat, but she’ll bite when cornered. Big Brother resents Baoling for not being born a boy, that’s why he’s so harsh on her. He can accept his stepdaughter but not his own flesh and blood. Dad, you really need to talk to Big Brother.

Nobody is rejecting Baoling. Blame her mother for not giving her a penis. Making her sound so pitiful—the trust fund gives her a monthly allowance. Our Ye family has never mistreated her.

The bank card for the allowance has always been in Big Brother’s possession.

Would your brother spend her meager money? He’s saving it for her. Ye Qizu set the newspaper aside. Don’t go around shouting about this elsewhere. You may not care about your brother’s reputation, but I do.

Ye Kaisi complained: Is this ‘elsewhere’? I’ve only told you. Dad, don’t be so biased.

Are you still going on about this? Your brother says I favor you, you say I favor him. How annoying! Ye Qizu found both his sons disagreeable.

He envied his third brother, whose sons were each more capable than the last, while his own two sons, despite their age, remained useless and only knew how to fight among themselves.

But Ye Kaisi was somewhat smarter. He had a good temperament and knew when to stop, just like now—after successfully lodging a complaint against his eldest brother, he didn’t get angry even when scolded by their father and simply sat aside eating hawthorn slices.

Ye Qizu entered the study, picked up the phone, and dialed someone he trusted: Ah Zhong, regarding Baoling’s blind date with Young Master Lu, please keep an eye on it and make sure nothing goes wrong. Also, if Baoling needs any help, assist her discreetly so she doesn’t embarrass herself in front of outsiders.

Lin Zhong, who was working at Ye Qingtang’s office building, had just hung up the boss’s call when the internal line rang promptly.

The secretary informed him that a Miss Ye without an appointment wished to see him.

Ye Baoling had just left the old main residence. One street ahead stood Ye Qingtang’s headquarters, Jade Dragon Tower. Without hesitation, she went straight to find Lin Zhong.

In the original storyline, Lin Zhong didn’t appear often. He had handled the original host’s funeral arrangements and later provided considerable assistance to Gu Man’er, making him a decent and upright person.

Currently, he served as deputy general manager of Ye Qingtang’s company and was Ye Qizu’s most trusted aide—Ye Qizu trusted him more than his own sons. Thus, seeking Lin Zhong’s help would make things twice as effective for Ye Baoling.

Please, have a seat. What would you like to drink? Coffee or cola?

Ye Baoling was indeed thirsty. I’d like ice water, and please bring a glass for my friend waiting outside too. Thank you.

The secretary smiled in acknowledgment and left.

Once Ye Baoling settled on the sofa, Lin Zhong asked, What brings you to see your Uncle Zhong today, Baoling?

Ye Baoling smiled. There’s something I’d like to ask for your help with.

I work for your family—it’s not about asking for help or favors. Feel free to speak directly.

Ye Baoling took a photocopied sheet from her bag. I lost my bank card and had a new one issued. This is a copy of my new card. I’d like to trouble you to pass it to the contact person for the Ye Qingtang Family Trust Fund.

It’s no trouble at all. Just leave it with me. Lin Zhong took the photocopy, glanced at it, and set it on the table.

Things were going more smoothly than expected—she hadn’t approached the wrong person.

Ye Baoling added, There’s one more thing I’d like to ask. I saw your job posting in the newspaper—may I apply?

Lin Zhong was surprised. As far as he knew, the Ye family’s young mistress hadn’t even been willing to attend university. Why would she want to work now, and through application rather than a direct appointment?

He asked, Which posting are you referring to?

The clerical position in the company’s secretarial department. I’ll apply on my own merits—I’m not asking for special treatment, but you can’t deliberately reject me either.

You want to be a clerk?

Is that acceptable?

Ye Baoling didn’t simply want to be a clerk, but the original host’s educational background was limited, and given her qualifications, she could only start with a simple job.

The secretarial department was the most well-informed area in the company, making it ideal for her to infiltrate and understand the operations of the Ye family business.

To obtain the Ugly King Jade Pendant from the old main residence, she first needed to know both herself and the enemy, seizing opportunities as they arose.

Lin Zhong smiled and replied, Of course, it’s possible. Does your grandfather or your father know you want to apply?

I haven’t told them.

Should I mention it to them?

Ye Baoling smiled slightly: Uncle Zhong, you decide what’s appropriate, as long as it doesn’t affect my job application.

Lin Zhong understood—she meant he shouldn’t speak out of turn.

The secretary brought in a glass of ice water, and Ye Baoling drank half of it in one go.

Lin Zhong handed the photocopied papers on the desk to the secretary, instructing her to have them delivered to the trust liaison.

Afterward, Lin Zhong asked, Can you tell Uncle Zhong why you want to work as a lowly clerk?

Ye Baoling couldn’t tell the truth and only said, I want to find a job to gain some experience, but aside from being a clerk, I don’t know what else I can do.

Lin Zhong encouraged her: If you can do a clerk’s job well, you’ll already be better than many. Being a clerk isn’t easy. However, your name is too similar to Baoshun and Baoxin’s—it’ll be hard to keep it hidden.

The original host’s mother had once changed her surname to Gu Baolin, but later, the Ye family threatened to cut off her living expenses, forcing her mother to change it back.

My middle school diploma has the name Gu Baolin, but it doesn’t match my ID card.

Lin Zhong thought for a moment and said, Just fill in Gu Baolin on the application. Once you pass the interview, I’ll handle the rest.

Thank you, Uncle Zhong.

No need to thank me. Lin Zhong wasn’t optimistic about Ye Baoling working, especially since her family had arranged a blind date for her, and she was about to enter into marriage.

Of course, he didn’t need to be honest and discourage her.

By the way, your grandfather has put me in charge of your meeting with Young Master Lu…

Ah? Ye Baoling hadn’t expected that such a purely family matter would involve Lin Zhong’s assistance.

Lin Zhong explained with a smile, It’s mainly because I’m familiar with both your family and the Lu family.

He asked for her opinion: For the first meeting, would you like to go see a movie, watch a stage play, or simply have a meal together to get to know each other?

Ye Baoling had no intention of going to a movie with him. Let’s just have a simple meal and get to know each other first.

Then I’ll call you after I’ve made the arrangements.

It was noon, and work hours were over. Ye Baoling didn’t stay long and took her leave.

The next two days were uneventful. Chen Yulan went to the hospital to take care of her grandmother, while Ye Baoling stayed home without going out.

She and Gu Man’er each wrote a resume and mailed them to the HR department of Ye Qingtang’s headquarters.

At noon that day, Gu Zhen’er was sprawled over the desk in Ye Baoling’s room, writing her Grand Plan for Managing the Household.

Ye Baoling sat by the electric fan, eating ice cream and thinking about installing an air conditioner.

Zhen’er sneezed twice in a row. Ye Baoling covered her ice cream in disgust: Cousin, your spit!

There isn’t any. Cousin, if you’re worried about spit, I can help you finish it?

Are you doing this on purpose? Eating two in a row will make you fat.

Zhen’er giggled: I’m not afraid of getting fat.

A voice came from the stairwell: Cousin, phone call!

Ye Baoling eventually handed the unfinished ice cream to Gu Zhen’er. She grabbed a tissue, wiping her mouth as she walked, and answered the phone at the turn of the second-floor staircase.

It was Lin Zhong. Lu Tianyou had invited her to dinner that evening at Edward Restaurant.

Ye Baoling had no conflicts and agreed.

Just after hanging up, the phone rang again. This time, it was Yang Pinxian.

Ah Ling, I hope I’m not disturbing you? I wanted to share some good news—Huaizhang returned home safely last night. Yang Pinxian’s voice lifted slightly at the end, making it clear this was likely one of the happiest moments of her life.

Nothing in this world is more precious than the reunion with a lost loved one.

Do you have time this evening? We’d like to invite you to our home for a simple family dinner. You and Huaizhang haven’t formally met yet – this would be a good opportunity.

Author’s Note:

Ye Huaizhang: Quite the busy schedule.

Ye Baoling: Can’t help being popular [Let me see]